Posted on November 24, 2025
The City of Sanibel is starting an important beach renourishment project designed to strengthen and protect the shoreline between Blind Pass and the western edge of Bowman’s Beach Park.
What the Project Will Do
The project will place about 300,000 cubic yards of new sand along the northern stretch of Sanibel, covering the area from near the former Mad Hatter Restaurant to the western edge of Bowman’s Beach Park.
Where the Sand Comes From
The sand will be collected by a hopper dredge from a state-approved offshore sand source located about 8.3 nautical miles west of Captiva Island.
Focus on the Most Vulnerable Areas
The project will strengthen the areas that need it most—specifically around:
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the former Castaways location
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the Sanibel-Captiva seawall
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the Clam Bayou breach area
These areas experienced the most significant erosion and will receive additional sand to improve storm protection and beach stability.
How the Beach Will Be Built
Sand will be placed both on the dry beach and underwater to rebuild a healthy shoreline. The restored beach and dune system will reach a height of approximately 6.5 feet (NAVD).
Restoring Natural Habitat
Once the new sand is in place, crews will install native dune vegetation to stabilize the dunes and support wildlife.
Anticipated Construction Schedule and Hours
Beach renourishment work on Sanibel is expected to begin the week of November 24, 2025. Once operations start, the contractor will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which is standard practice for dredging projects to shorten construction time and minimize disruptions.
Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of December 2025, barring any weather or equipment delays.
Staging Area
The City has finalized an agreement to use the former Castaways property on Sanibel Captiva Road as the main staging area for the beach renourishment project, as well as the Blind Pass Beach Park parking lot, which will close on Friday evening, November 21st. The City will provide an update when Blind Pass Beach Parking lot reopens. The Turner Beach parking lot reopened on October 30, 2025.
